Suction nozzle



A ril 22, 1941. E. o. H. HANSSON SUCTION NOZZLE Filed March 12, 1936124, mew BY ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 22, 1941 SUCTION NOZZLE Erik OskarHelge Hansson, Stockholm, Sweden, assignor to Electrolnx Corporation,Dover, Del, a corporation of Delaware Application March 12, 1936, SerialNo. 68,395

' 12 Claims.

My invention relates to suction nozzles and more particularly to duplexnozzles of the type shown in Patent No. 1,849,515, issued March 15,1932, to Lars Ell. The nozzle shown in the above identifiedpatentincludes a hollow member adapted to be con-' nected to a handle,and upon which is rotatably mounted a nozzle body provided with twosuction openings. These openings are of different types and are adaptedto do different kinds of cleaning. The nozzle openings may beselectively brought into operative position by rotating the'nozzle body,and for ease in effecting this rotation the body is preferablyunbalanced so that it will automatically start to rotate as soon as itis lifted from the surface undergoing cleaning. Rotation of the nozzlebody automatically establishes communication between the nozzle inoperative position and the suction pipe, communication with the other,inoperative nozzle being cut off.

As shown in the E11 patent, the rigid. handle member connected to thenozzle extends upward ly in an inclined direction so as to be normallyheld in the hand of the operator standing erect. However, it is oftendesirable to clean under low pieces of furniture, and in order to dothis, the handle must be lowered to a more or less horizontal positionadjacent to the floor. With an ordinary rigid nozzle, this results inlifting the forward lip from the floor, thus breaking the seal betweenthe nozzle and the floor and impairing to a great extent the cleaningability of the nozzle. In the device shown in the patent to Ell, thehandle may be lowered toward a horizontal position by rotating it in thenozzle body. However, it cannot be lowered all the way to a horizontalposition without establishing communication with the upper nozzle whichis in an inoperative posi-- tion. Such communication reduces the suctionat the operative nozzle, thus reducing the cleaning effect.

The chief object of my invention is to provide a nozzle of the abovetype, but so arranged that the handle member may be lowered to asubstantially horizontal position without possibility of establishingcommunication with the inoperative suction opening.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from thefollowing description considered in connection with the accom-' panyingdrawing, which form a part of the specification, and of which:

Fig. l is a front view, partially in cross-section, of a preferredembodiment of 'my invention;

Germany March 12, 1935 Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on theline 22 of Fig.1; and

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawing, reference character I D designates an angulartubular memberhaving a branch I2 adapted to receive a rigid hollowhandle member H. The other branch l6 of member I0 is provided with anouter cylindrical surface upon which is rotatably mounted a structure I8 formed with a small suction opening 20. Structure I8 is rotatablysecured to member l0 by means of a bolt 22 having threaded engagementwith a wall 24 formed within branch I6.

A structure 26 formed with a large suction opening 28 is pivotallysecured to structure It on the side thereof opposite from suctionopening 20. Structure 26 is pivotable with respect to structure l8 aboutan axis which is at substantially right angles to the axis .of rotationof structure l8 about branch l6. Inasmuch as structure 26 is secured tostructure [8, it is also pivotable with structure l8 about branch Hi. Inother words, structure 26 has universal movement with respect to branchl6, and consequently, with respect to member ID and handle l4 securedthereto. 3

Structure I8 is formed with arcuate flanges 30 which are receivedbetween an arcuate surface 32 formed on structure 26 and the inner sidesof arcuate tongues 33 formed on cap members 34 which are secured tostructure 26 by means of bolts 36.

Lower side of branch I 6 is cut away, as is shown at 38, so as to forman opening for establishing communication between the interior of memberIll and either of the suction openings 2|] or 28. Inrthe position shownin Fig. 2, suction opening 28 is in communication with member ID. If thenozzle structures l8 and 26 are rotated through degrees about branch l6,the suction opening 20 will be below the branch l6 and communicationwill be established between opening 20 and the interior of member Illthrough opening 38.

In order to cause the nozzle structures to rotate in this mannerautomatically upon lifting them from the floor, a weight 40 ispositioned adjacent one end only of structure 26. As shown, this Weightis placed in a space between the structure 26 and the cap 34. Ifdesired, a spring 42 may be disposed between the weight and the cap toprevent rattling of the former. Obviously, other means may be employedto keep the weight in place and it may be fastened by being poured inmolten state and allowed to harden and adhere to the structure 26.

The operation of the above described nozzle will be largely apparent. Ifhandle member I 4 is connected to a source of suction, such as a vacuumcleaner unit, air will be drawn in through suction opening 28, opening38, and member II! to the interior of handle ll, with the parts in theposition-shown in Fig. 2. In this position, the nozzle may be passedback and forth over a fioor or other surface, the operator standingerect and grasping the upper end of handle ll. If it is desired to cleanunderneath a piece of furniture, this may be done by lowering handle N,the structure l8 pivoting about structure 26, while the latter remainsfiat on the floor. Such pivoting in no manner afiects the communicationbetween opening 28 and member ID, inasmuch as the opening 46 is ofsuilicient size so that the upper end of suction opening 28 cannot beclosed. Moreover, such pivoting of structure l8 about structure 26 hasno tendency whatsoever to establish communication between member I andsuction opening 20, nor to lift the forward edge of structure 26 fromthe floor. v

If while cleaning a rug, for instance, articles are encountered whichthe large suction opening 28 is unable to pick up, the operator liftsthe entire nozzle from the floor, whereupon weight 40 causes the nozzlestructure to rotate about branch I6 sufiiciently so that the nozzle canbe again placed on the floor with the small suction opening 20 incontact therewith. As previously described, suction opening 20 is now incommunication with the interior oi! member ID and the higher suctionresulting from the smaller nozzles enables this nozzle to pick uparticles which resisted the suctionof the larger opening.

Wall 24 in branch It not only provides an anchorage for bolt 22, butalso makes the line of flow from the nozzle opening to branch I2smoother, thus reducing the chance for the formation of eddy currents.

It will be understood that many different forms of nozzle openings maybe employed in the duplex nozzle above described. The present inventionis 'not concerned with the specific form or such openings, but merelywith their arrangement in a duplex nozzle for accomplishing the purposesset forth.

While I have described one more or less specific embodiment of myinvention, it is to be understood that this has been done for thepurpose of illustration only and that the scope of my invention is notto be limited thereby, but is to be determined by the, appended claimswhen interpreted as broadly as the prior art will permit.

What I claim is:

1. In a suction cleaning device, a hollow mem- .ber adapted to beconnected to a rigid handle,

to said first axis andto the lengthwise extent of structure andcontinuously rotatable with respect to said member about a second axisat right angles-to said first axis, and means for initiating rotation ofsaid structure about said second axis when said structure is lifted fromthe floor by said handle.

3. In a suction cleaning device, hollow means adapted to be connected toa handle member, hollow structure including a first suction nozzlerotatably mounted on said means for communicating therewith insubstantial air-tight relation, and hollow structure including a secondsuction nozzle rotatably mounted on the first mentioned structure forcommunication therewith in substantial air-tight relation.

4. In a suction cleaning device, hollow means adapted to be connected toa handle member, hollow structure including a first suction nozzlemounted for rotation about said means and arranged for communicationtherewith in substantial air-tight relation, and hollow structureincluding a second suction nozzle mounted for rotation about the sameaxis as the first mentioned structure and about an axis at an anglethereto and arranged for communication in substantial air-tight relationwith said first mentioned structure.

5. In a suction cleaning device, hollow means adapted to be connected toa handle member, hollow structure including a first suction nozzlemounted for rotation about said means and arranged for communicationtherewith in substantial air-tight relation, and structure including asecond suction nozzle angularly disposed with relation to said firstsuction nozzle and mounted for rotation about the same axis as the firstmentioned structure and about an axis at substantially right anglesthereto and arranged for communication in substantial air-tight relationwith said first mentioned structure.

6. In a suction cleaning device, a hollowmember adapted to be connectedto a source of suction, a hollow body rotatably mounted on said memberand arranged for communication therewith in substantial air-tightrelation and having a small suction nozzle, and hollow structure havinga large suction nozzle pivotally secured to said hollow body andarranged for communication therewith in substantial air-tight relation.said hollow. structure being pivotal about an axis substantially atright angles to the axis of rotation of said hollow body about saidhollow member, said structure being disposed on the side ofsaid hollowbody opposite from said small nozzle.

'7. In a suction cleaning device, hollow means adapted to be connectedto a handle member, hollow structure including a first elongated suctionnozzle rotatably mounted on said means about an axis substantially atright angles to the lengthwise extent of said nozzle and being arrangedfor communication therewith in substantial air-tight relation, andhollow structure including a second elongated suction nozzle pivotallymounted on the first mentioned structure and being arranged tocommunicate therewith in substantial air-tight relation, the secondmentioned structure being pivotal about an axis substantially parallelto the lengthwise extent oi said second nozzle.

8. In a suction cleaning device a tubular member adapted to be connectedto a source oi suction, hollow structure rotatably moimted on saidmember with a first suction nomle arranged to' communicate with saidtubular member in one position and an arcuate portion bounding anopening arranged to communicate with said tubular member in anotherposition, hollow means including a second suction nozzle arranged tocommunicate with the opening bounded by the arcuate portion insubstantial air-tight relation therewith and having an arcuate surfaceand a member secured to said means and having an arcuate surfaceparallel with and spaced from the first mentioned surface, said arcuateportion of said structure being rotatably received between said surfaceswhereby said means is rotatably secured to said structure.

9. In a suction cleaning device, a tubular member adapted to beconnected to a source of suction, hollow structure rotatably mounted onsaid member with a first suction nozzle arranged to communicate withsaid tubular member in one position and an arcuate portion arranged tocommunicate with said tubular member in another position, meansincluding a second suction nozzle and an arcuate surface arranged tocommunicate with said arcuate portion in substantial airtight relationtherewith, a cap member secured to said means and having an arcuatesurface parallel with and spaced from the first mentioned surface. saidarcuate portion of said structure being rotatably received in said spacewhereby said means is rotatably secured to said structure, a weightdisposed between said cap member and said means adjacent to one end ofthe latter for unbalancing said means and said structure with respect tothe axis of rotation about said tubular member, and spring means forholding said weight in place.

10. A nozzle for a suction cleaner comprising a tubular member forattachment to a hollow handle. and a' source suction, and a pair offlexibly connected body members rotatably mounted on said tubular memberand having spaced suction orifices constructed to be alternately broughtinto communication with the source of suction and when one nozzle is incommunication with suction the other is shut off, each of said pair offlexibly connected body members having spaced bearing surfaces forcooperation with complementary bearing surfaces onv the other bodymember thereby providing relative angular movement between said bodymembers and unobstructed flow of air, said body members being swingableabout said tubular member and one of the body members being swingablesubstantially at right angles to the path of movement about the tubularmember to permit the handle to be swung from side to side and up anddown while the device is n use without interrupting the suction. 11. Anozzle for a suction cleaner comprising a tubular member for attachmentto a hollow handle and a source of suction, and a pair of suctionorifice-containing flexibly connected body portions rotatably mounted onsaid tubular member with the suction orifices arranged for communicationwith the source of suction one at a time while the other is shut oiffrom suction, said orifice-containing body portions having relativeangular movement, one being movable about an axis at right angles tothat about which they are both movable together so that the handle maybe swung laterally and raised or lowered while the device is in usewithout interrupting the suction.

12. A suction cleaner comprising a tubular member for connection to asource of suction, a

body portion rotatably mounted on said tubular member and provided witha first suction orifice arranged to communicate with said tubular member in one position and a second suction orifice having an arcuateportion and arranged to communicate with said tubular member in anotherposition, and means defining a second suction nozzle provided with anarcuate portion, for cooperation with the arcuate portion of the secondsuction orifice whereby relative movement between the nozzles isprovided and full suction may be had and maintained through eithernozzle, and means for fastening the second suction nozzle'to the firstcomprising a holding member carried by one of the last mentioned membersand movably confining a portion of the other last mentioned memberstherebetween.

ERIK OSKAR HELGE HANSSON.

